Rucchin goal helps Thrashers top Washington

THREE-GOAL BURST The Southeast Division leaders came from two goals down against the Capitals, while in Ohio the Colombus Blue Jackets defeated the Flames in a shootout

AP AND AFP , WASHINGTON AND RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

The Calgary Flames' Andrew Ference, right, collides with the Columbus Blue Jackets' Rick Nash during the third period of their NHL game on Friday in Columbus, Ohio.

PHOTO: AP

Steve Rucchin's go-ahead goal 27 seconds into the third period gave backup goalie Johan Hedberg and the Atlanta Thrashers a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday night.

The Southeast Division leaders ended their two-game losing streak, but not before trailing 2-0 as the second period neared the midway mark. The Thrashers then netted three goals in less than four minutes to take the lead.

Dainius Zubrus scored twice for last-place Washington, which has lost all three games against Atlanta this season by the same score.

Hedberg was steady enough, finishing with 27 saves, seven in the third period.

It was the second-longest shootout this season. The New York Rangers beat Philadelphia in the 13th round on Oct. 7.

David Vyborny had two goals, Sergei Fedorov had a goal and an assist, and Ron Hainsey and Fredrik Modin each had two assists for Columbus, which had lost six of seven. The Blue Jackets improved to 8-2-1 at home in the series against Calgary. Duvie Westcott also had a goal.

Daymond Langkow, slumping early in the season, broke out with a goal and two assists. Jarome Iginla and Dion Phaneuf each added a goal and an assist for the Flames, who have lost four in a row overall and five straight on the road. Alex Tanguay added a goal.

The Flames trailed 3-1 after a period but scored the next three goals to take the lead for the first time.

Ales Hemsky appeared to score the tying goal with 4 seconds left, but it was disallowed because of a hand pass off of the faceoff. That prompted the home fans to litter the ice with debris.

Dallas captain Brendan Morrow and Niklas Hagman also scored for the Stars (11-2), who are off to the best start in team history.

Ryan Smyth and Petr Sykora scored for the Oilers (7-6).

Ducks 6, Coyotes 2

At Anaheim, California, Andy McDonald scored on a penalty shot to cap Anaheim's four-goal second period and the Ducks improved on the best start in franchise history.

Chris Kunitz, Teemu Selanne and Chris Pronger scored power-play goals, and the Ducks (10-0-4) grabbed the NHL points lead with 24 -- one more than Buffalo (11-0-1), the only other team without a regulation loss.

Anaheim is one game shy of the longest point streak from the start of a season in NHL history, set by the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers (12 wins, three ties).

Dustin Penner and Sean O'Donnell also scored and Chris Pronger had two assists, helping the Ducks beat Phoenix for the seventh straight time. Ilya Bryzgalov made 25 saves and is 7-0 against Phoenix with a 1.71 goals-against average.

Patrick Fischer and Mike Comrie scored third-period goals for the Coyotes (3-10), who already trail Anaheim by 18 points in the Pacific Division.